11-day China Getaway (2010)

Shanghai - Guilin - Xi'an - Beijing

Scroll down to bottom for departure dates, prices and hotel list

Day 1/Fri: Departing from North America
Depart home city and cross the International Date Line.

Day 2/Sat: Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive in late afternoon and transfer to hotel on your own. Taxi fare from Pudong International Airport to the hotel costs about 140 Yuan or less than $20.   

Day 3/Sun: Shanghai
Paris of China, Pearl of the Orient, city of quick riches, paradise of the adventurers - those were some of the names by which Shanghai was known before the Communists took it over from the Nationalist Government in 1949. Like the rest of the country Shanghai is currently undergoing one of the fastest economic expansions the world has ever seen, having experienced 19% GDP growth per year for the past 18 years.

Meet your guide in the lobby at 9:00 AM. Our sightseeing today begins with a walk on the Bund, a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. We then visit Shanghai Museum and the bazaar at the Temple of Town God. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Mon: Shanghai - Guilin
Free day to explore on your own. We recommend Shanghai World Expo, Jinmao Tower, and a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, .Transfer to the airport by taxi for evening flight to Guilin where you will be picked up by a local guide. (B)

Day 5/Tue: Guilin
A medium-sized city by Chinese standard, Guilin has long been renowned for its unique scenery. The name Guilin literally means "forest of sweet osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees in the city.

Day cruise on Li River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages -- sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. Disembark in Yangshuo and drive back to Guilin. (B/L)

Day 6/Wed: Guilin - Xi'an
Enjoy some free time before visiting Reed Flute Cave and historic Fubo Hill. We fly to Xi'an in late afternoon or early evening depending on flight availability. (B/L/D)

Day 7/Thu: Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity. Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. A stroll on the ancient city wall before dinner is also on our schedule. Tonight we enjoy a spectacular music and dance show reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), a period generally considered a golden era of the Chinese civilization. (B/L/D)

Day 8/Fri: Xi'an - Beijing
Morning flight to Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square and adjacent Forbidden City following lunch. Also known as Palace Museum or Gu Gong in Chinese, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties lived and carried out their administration. (B/L)

Day 9/Sat: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall, 70km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. (B/L)

Day 10/Sun: Beijing
Today we visit the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and a hutong - traditional alleyway flanked with courtyard residences. We then wrap up the day with a sumptuous Peking Roast Duck dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 11/Mon: Beijing - North America
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board return flight in the afternoon and arrive home the same day after crossing the International Date Line. (B)

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Hotels & Yangtze Cruise Ship
City	Nights	Hotel/Ship	Star Rating
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Pudong
Guilin	2	Sheraton Guilin
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Beijing	3	The Great Wall Sheraton Beijing

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